Thousands of Masa Israel Journey Fellows chose to stay in Israel throughout the pandemic crisis, and with the 2020-21 registration for Masa open, demand is higher than before.
Among the Fellows who have remained in Israel are Abby Goldstein and Nechama Klajn. These young women are not your average Fellows. Both 18-year-olds were adopted separately by Jewish families in Australia. Prior to the global corona outbreak, they arrived in Israel on a volunteer program with Masa, founded by the Jewish Agency and the government of Israel. Their program plans were changed due to Covid-19 and they went to help farmers who were just beginning to cope with the new reality, and now they are volunteering with Magen David Adom in Jerusalem.
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Goldstein was born in China and Klajn in Thailand. Goldstein was adopted at the age of a year and a half by a Jewish family from Melbourne, Australia, and converted to Judaism. Klajn's biological parents left her at the hospital where she was born, and from there she was sent to an orphanage. Later, she was also adopted by a Jewish family from Melbourne and converted.
Over the years, both Goldstein and Klajn developed a relationship with a culture and heritage that they were not born into. They formed a connection with Judaism and Israel, and a short time before the global pandemic crisis they decided to embark on a volunteer program in the Jewish state with Masa. Although the pandemic changed their original plans and expectations, they both decided to stay in Israel and volunteer in the Ayanot youth village, where they stayed for the majority of the quarantine closures. Now, they are volunteering with MDA, assisting with the day-to-day operations of rescue forces.
Annually, about 1,400 young Jews aged 18, from dozens of countries around the world, come to Israel on a gap year program with Masa to volunteer. Among the volunteer activities, some of them assist with agriculture in moshavim and kibbutzim. Through this experience, they strengthen their Jewish identity and learn about the State of Israel. Like Goldstein and Klajn, who came with "Israel By Choice", the programs are an opportunity for personal growth and discovery, and help participants prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
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Ofer Gutman, acting CEO of Masa said, "I'm happy that despite the pandemic, young Jews from around the world are choosing to volunteer in Israel. We are witnessing an increase in demand for enrollment for the coming year, and we are excited about this opportunity."
